23 things you only know if you’re mum to a redhead
What is it with red hair? It certainly seems to make the world take notice! If your child has ginger locks, you might recognise some of these experiences …
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1 Your child becomes a mini-celebrity (like Ed Sheeran!), as strangers at bus stops/ shop assistants/ doctors stop to admire his ginger locks.
2 The question, ‘So where did that red hair come from?’ gets asked. A lot!
3 Closely followed by, ‘Ooh I bet he's got a temper!’
4 You (secretly) reckon that fiery temper stereotype may have some truth to it.
5 You wonder if your child suffers more discomfort when ill. In fact, redheaded kids might experience pain differently – a US study found that redheads need more anaesthesia than those with a different hair colour.
6 You’ll have learned to take extra note when your child is deciding which hand to write with – left handedness is more common with redheads.
7 If your redhead is a boy, you can guarantee someone will say, ‘That’s a gorgeous colour - it’s wasted on boys isn’t it?’
8 Some strangers think it’s OK to come up and tousle your child’s hair – often accompanied with the words, ‘Hello ginger nut!’
9 You perfect a death stare to indicate that unsolicited hair-ruffling of your child is most definitely not OK.
10 Your child is a rare and wonderful thing. It's often said that only 2% of the world’s population has red hair.
11 You can always find your kid in a crowd. Yay!
12 You forget the sunscreen at your peril. A redhead with sunburn is NO FUN at all.
13 If neither you nor your partner are ginger, you have to get used to milkman jokes!
14 You become a bit of an expert at genetics, as you explain that, actually, non-gingers CAN have redheaded babies.
15 All of the questions about red hair intensify if your child is mixed race. But, as you get used to pointing out, you can be red-haired and any ethnicity.
16 Your child is thrilled when there’s an admirable red-haired character in a starring role, such as Princess Merida.
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17 But not so pleased when they’re constantly tagged as a well-known redhead. Who wants to be called Ron Weasley as they walk down the street?
18 You prefer the term 'red hair' to 'ginger'.
19 You know all the words used to describe red hair. As well as ginger, there’s auburn, russet, strawberry blonde, sandy, flame-haired, titian …
20 When someone says something negative or nasty about redheads, you take it very personally.
21 You unfriend anyone who says anything vaguely disparaging about redheads. And as for Katie Hopkins, when she said ginger children are hard to love … there are no words!
22 You consider strategies to ensure your child won’t get upset if his hair colour is pointed out – like using the terms ginger and carrot top, affectionately, so he won’t overreact when other kids do.
23 You’re fiercely proud your child has such an amazing hair colour!
Are you mum to a redhead?
Do any of these points ring true for you? Perhaps you've got a few things you'd like to add. Let us know!
